Caves and the Ancient Greek Mind

Descending Underground in the Search for Ultimate Truth

Yulia Ustinova

The first systematic collection of evidence on underground revelations in ancient Greek culture

Juxtaposes ancient testimonies with the results of modern neurological research

Cross-cultural and trans-historical emphases provide a broad background for understanding the phenomena in question

Caves and the Ancient Greek Mind

Descending Underground in the Search for Ultimate Truth

Yulia Ustinova

Description

Caves and the Ancient Greek Mind analyses techniques of searching for ultimate wisdom in ancient Greece. The Greeks perceived mental experiences of exceptional intensity as resulting from divine intervention. They believed that to share in the immortals' knowledge, one had to liberate the soul from the burden of the mortal body by attaining an altered state of consciousness, that is, by merging with a superhuman being or through possession by a deity. These states were often attained by inspired mediums, `impresarios of the gods' - prophets, poets, and sages - who descended into caves or underground chambers. Yulia Ustinova juxtaposes ancient testimonies with the results of modern neuropsychological research. This novel approach enables an examination of religious
phenomena not only from the outside, but also from the inside: it penetrates the consciousness of people who were engaged in the vision quest, and demonstrates that the darkness of the caves provided conditions vital for their activities.

Caves and the Ancient Greek Mind

Descending Underground in the Search for Ultimate Truth

Yulia Ustinova

Author Information

Yulia Ustinova is Senior Lecturer, Department of General History, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel.

Caves and the Ancient Greek Mind

Descending Underground in the Search for Ultimate Truth

Yulia Ustinova

Reviews and Awards

"Her work is well researched and extremely valuable as a catalog of famous caves and their associated oracles or sages." --Classical World

"Caves and the Ancient Greek Mind is an interesting text that provides a fascinating perspective on caves.... it will appeal to readers interested in classical literature, shamanism, cave art, and the complex interaction of altered states of consciousness and the human mind."--NSS News